The "Bell for Peace and Friendship" was rung as a symbolic act for healing the world.
The URI Europe Assembly “Together Creating Heaven on Earth by Cultivating Peace, Justice, and Healing” was held in Lienz, Eastern Tyrol, Austria, Sept 28 - October 2, 2023. Fifty-eight Cooperation Circle leaders, young adult activists, and representatives from URI Europe partnering organizations gathered from 17 countries and 16 different spiritual and religious expressions. The purpose was to build relationships, enliven, educate, and mutually support one another. The group identified critical issues facing Europe and the world community and how to plan for joint action.
“Education Brings Peace”, the Lienz Cooperation Circle generously hosted the assembly. A sacred opening ceremony around a campfire and a closing ceremony with a lit candle for each person’s commitment bound the group together.
Food was lovingly catered by volunteers, the local Franciscan monastery provided a welcoming venue for meetings. Suffering from European wars was remembered by a tree-planting ceremony at the Lienz war cemetery. Volunteers and URI participants renewed their caring support for three refugee camps in Syria housing more than 600 children, women, and elders.
Collective action, compassion, and a deepening network of friendships rippled from Lienz to mobilize interfaith action work throughout Europe and the world. A participant commented, “Surely, this must be training for bringing heaven to earth!”
To learn more about URI Lienz CC please visit https://www.bildung-frieden.net/
To learn about Bell for Peace and Friendship, please visit https://freundschaftsglocke-hochstein.net/a-bell-for-peace-and-friendship/
